Packing container with remote power unit



May 9, 1967 w. M. FELTS PACKING CONTAINER WITH REMOTE POWER UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 11, 1965 FIG. 2.

WALLACE M. FELTS INVENTOR.

A T TORNE Y May 9, 1967 w. M. FELTS 3,318,231

PACKING CONTAINER WITH REMOTE POWER UNIT Filed Oct. 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' WALLACE M. FEL TS INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,318,231 PACKING CONTAINER WITH REMOTE POWER UNIT Wallace M. Felts, Fort Worth, Tex., assignor to Fruehauf Trailer Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,443 1 Claim. (Cl. 100-52) This invention relates to collecting and transporting refuse and has reference to a stationary or semi-stationary power unit for use in conjunction with portable containers having packer blades therein.

The disposal of refuse collected in large quantities at certain places, for example at supermarkets and industrial plants, has been expedited by placing large containers at such locations and subsequently dumping the contents into disposal trucks or trailers. Most modern disposal trucks or trailers have packer means for compacting the refuse, but ordinarily the collecting containers do not. It has been proposed that the containers have pusher blades for compacting the refuse at the collection locations and then hauling the containers to disposal areas or incinerator plants. The proposed containers included power units therein for operating the blades and which power units were transported along with the containers.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable container for collecting refuse including a packer :blade therein and a separate stationary power unit for operating said blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved hydraulic packing means for a container, either portable or stationary, including an arrangement of pressure switches whereby the pusher blade automatically reverses its direction when a predetermined pressure of the blade on the refuse is attained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction and arrangement whereby a single stationary power unit may, in turn, operate a multiple of containers having hydraulic pusher blades therein and whereby one container may be filled while another is being transported.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portable container and stationary power unit in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal verticalsectional view of the container illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a combined hydraulic and electrical diagram according to the invention, and

FIGURE 4 is a reduced scale schematic side elevational view of a truck having a tilting frame for loading and unloading containers such as herein described.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of a double solenoid valve and a pressure relief valve, first shown in FIGURE 3 between the pump and operating lines.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded elevational view of a conventional quick disconnect coupling used in the present invention.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2, the container body shown includes a floor 10, a top 11, side walls 12, rear doors 13, and a latch mechanism for the latter, not numbered. Forwardly of the container body and including the same floor 10, there is a loading hopper comprised of a front wall 14, side walls 15, side doors 16 in the side walls, and top members 17 which may be hinged, not shown, to the tops of the side doors to provide a top access opening 18, FIGURE 2, in the hopper. Latch means 19 are provided for the doors 16. The thus far described container, which includes the loading hopper, is conventional and is not, therefore, herein described in detail.

3,318,231 Patented May 9, 1967 Within the body and mounted on the floor 10, there is a longitudinally disposed hydraulic cylinder 20 having a piston 21 therein, a forwardly extending piston rod 22 and a pusher blade 23 on the extending end of the piston rod. The stroke of the cylinder 20 is such that the blade 23 is moved the length of the hopper to pull refuse through an opening 24 in the forward end of the body. There is a stationary housing 25 over the cylinder 20 and a movable housing 26 attached to the blade 23. The movable housing 26 is in sliding engagement with the outer surface of the first said housing 25. In transit, the blade 23 serves as a closure for the body opening 24, but within the scope of the invention the blade and cylinder assembly may be of the type, not shown, wherein the blade operates inside of the body for compacting refuse therein.

Parallel sills 27, running the length of the body, support the floor 10, and at the forward ends of the sills there are spaced parallel stub sills 28 for supporting loading rollers 29 therebetween. Primary rollers 30 are mounted between pairs of depending journal blocks 31 at the four corners of the body. Axles 32 for the primary rollers 30 extend through the journal blocks 31 and the sills 27.

The power unit shown in FIGURE 1 is mounted on a rectangular base 33 and has parallel skids 34 therebeneath so that the unit may be lifted and moved, when required, by a fork lift truck, not shown. The primary components of the power unit shown in FIGURE 1 include an electric motor 35, a pump 36 driven by the motor shaft 37, a double solenoid valve 38, a reservoir 39 and a control box 40. However, other parts and the relation of parts of the power unit are best shown in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the hydraulic system, the intake line 41 of the pump 36 is connected with the bottom of the reservoir 39, and a discharge line 42 connects the ump with the double acting solenoid valve 38. Interposed in the discharge line 42 there is a relief valve 43 which has a by-pass line 44 to the reservoir 39. A filter 45 may be provided in the reservoir 39 around the opening of the pump intake line 41.

The double solenoid valve 38 is of the open center type with spring return to neutral position. Thus, when not actuated, and if the pump 36 is-operating, oil is returned to the reservoir 39 by way of a return line 46. The side of the solenoid valve 38 opposite the pump discharge line 42 has pack and extend operating lines 47 and 48 which are connected, by quick disconnect couplings 49, 50, with lines 51, 52 in the container body, and which last said lines are connected with opposite ends of the cylinder 20. The operating lines 47, 48 are schematically shown in FIGURE 3, but it is to be understood that the extending lengths of these lines are flexible as shown in FIGURE 1.

- Referring now to the electrical circuits illustrated in FIGURE 3, the motor 35 is supplied by three leads 53, 54 and 55. Two of the leads 54, 55 connect with the primary of a step-down transformer 56 which supplies lower voltage to several circuits to be described. One such circuit 57, referred to as the motor starting circuit,

extends from the secondary of the transformer 56 to a junction point a, and includes a coil 58 for closing a normally open quadruple pole single throw switch 59 across the motor leads 53, 54, 55 and a switch 60 in a by-pass circuit 61. The by-pass circuit 61 includes a manually operated momentary starter switch 62. Connected in parallel with the by-pass circuit 61 and around the manual starter switch 62, there is an extend stop circuit 63 including a normally closed manually operated emergency stop switch 64 and a normally closed pressure operated limit switch 65 which opens when the pressure in the exten hydraulic line 48 reaches a predetermined value, for example, when the piston 21 fully extends the piston rod 22 within the cylinder 20.

Similarly, there is a pack stop circuit 66 including a normally closed pressure operated limit switch 67 which opens when the pressure in the pack hydraulic line 47 reaches a predetermined value, for example when the refuse becomes packed to a certain degree or when the piston 21 reaches the end of the cylinder 20. One end of the circuit 66 is connected with ground and other end is connected with a junction point b by way of a coil of a relay 68 and a normally open momentary pack switch 69. The last referred to switch 69 is mechanically linked with the first described starter switch 62. When the coil of the relay 68 is energized, the armature 70 thereof closes and maintains contact with line 71. Line 71 is in parallel with the momentary switch 69 and the junction point b. Between the relay 68 and the normally closed pressure switch 67 there is a normally closed manual switch 72 whereby the operator may reverse the direction'of the blade 23 during the pack cycle of operation.

The position of the armature 70 of the relay 68 controls the direction of flow of hydraulic fluid through the double solenoid valve 38. When the starter switch 62 is pressed the pack switch 69 closes and energizes the coil of the relay 68. This closes the armature 70 which makes contact with line 71. 'There is a junction point in the contacted side of line 71 from which a line 73 extends to a coil 74 in the double solenoid valve 38. The coil 74 is grounded to complete the circuit. When the coil 74 is energized-it actuates a valve element, not shown, and directs flow from the pump 36 to the pack hydraulic line 47. When the armature 70 of the relay 68 is open it makes contact with a line 75 which extends to a coil 76 in the double solenoid valve 38 for operating an element, not shown, which directs fluid to the hydraulic extend line 48. Like the first solenoid coil 74, the second solenoid coil is grounded to complete the circuit.

In operatiomthe pusher blade 23 is normally in an extended position, that is, adjacent the forward wall 14 of the loading hopper. The refuse to be collected is placed in the h pper, by wayof the side doors 16 or the top opening 18. In order to push the refuse into the body through opening 24, the starter button 62 is manually closed. This starts the motor 35 which drives the hydraulic pump 36, and at the same time closes the momentary .pack switch 69. Closing of the pack switch 69 energizes the pack stop circuit 66, the relay 68 and the line 71 by-passing the pack switch, and the line 73 to the coil 74 which directs flow from the pump 36 to the pack hydraulic line 47. When the packer blade 23 reaches the end of its stroke, or if it engages a previously compacted mass of refuse of high density, then the pressure switch 67 opens and de-energizes the coil of the relay 68. The relay 68 then opens and causes the armature 70 to make contactwith and energize the line 75 to the extend coil 76 of the double solenoid valve 38 thereby directing fluid from the pump 36 into the hydraulic extend line 48 which causes the blade 23 to return to its starting position. When the piston 21 in the cylinder reaches its limit, there is a surge of pressure which opens the pressure switch 65 in the extend line 48. The opening of pressure.

switch 65 tie-energizes the connected stop circuit 66 which, in turn, de-energizes the by-pass circuit 61 and the coil 58 controlling the quadruple pole switch 59. The latter switch 59 then opens and the power unit is then completely de-energized with the pusher blade 23 in its starting position.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 4, wherein the truck T shown includes a hoist H at the front of the bed B. Pivotally mounted at the rear of the bed B there is a tilting frame TF operated by a hydraulic cylinder HC for loading and unloading the container C described in the foregoing. Not shown, the titting frame TF has tracks for guiding the rollers .30 of the container C. The raised rollers 29 on the front of the container C contact the rear of the tilting frame TF to lift the forward end of the container into position for loading.

When the container C is disconnected from the power unit,'the quick disconnect couplings 49, may be fitted to each other by a short length of pipe, not shown, having corresponding coupling members on the ends thereof.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary construction herein shown and described, but may be made in various ways within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a hydraulic assembly including a portable container, a hydraulic cylinder having an extending piston rod and a packer blade on the extending end thereof, all within said container, a remote power unit adapted to be positioned outside of said container, said unit including a motor and a pump driven thereby, a double solenoid valve of the open center type having separate actuating coils, a reservoir, an intake line connecting the bottom of said reservoir with said pump, a discharge line connecting said pump with said solenoid valve, a return line connecting said solenoid valve with said reservoir, operating lines connecting said solenoid valve with opposite ends of said hydraulic cylinder, means directing flow to one or the other of said operating lines, said means including a pressure operated switch in each said operating line and electrically connected by a circuit with a said coil of said double solenoid valve, a quick disconnect coupling in each said ope-rating line between the pressure switch mounted therein and said cylinder whereby said container may be readily removed without moving said power unit, said means also including a relay, the armature of which alternately, connects one and the other of said circuits with a source of power when one or the other of said pressure switches is closed by pressure in the operating line in which it is mounted.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 173,965 2/1876 Jones 100229 2,365,536 12/1944- Fischer et al 52 3,049,250 8/1962 Dempster et a1. 21482 3,059,789 10/1962 Bowles 214-41 3,213,605 10/1965 Welden 6052 3,229,618 1/1966 OConnor -51 3,229,622 l/1966 French et a1 1002l4 3,231,107 1/1966 Clar 21438 FOREIGN PATENTS 985,462 3/ 1965 Great Britain.

BILLY J. WILHITE, Primary Examiner, 

